I’m not just referring to a kitchen sink loaded with dirty pots and pans and stacks of dinner plates smeared with gravy. The big messy part is family relationships. It’s that time of year when the internet is overrun with articles on how to avoid dinner table conflicts or sparks with combative relatives. What if I suggested that you [...]
Pat Taub
It’s 2050 and my great granddaughter opens my journal to November 16, 2025: Citizens of Gaza are trapped in water-soaked makeshift tents. Shivering children wade in mud up to their knees; their mothers wail, “This is worse than death.” There are few men left. I’m consumed with worry that these children will freeze to death as Israel [...]
Pat Taub
I’m grateful to the early 19th century feminists who took the bold step to sew pockets in their clothing. While pockets were standard in men’s fashion, women had to fight for the right to have pockets in their attire. Pockets were seen as the exclusive providence of men where the objection to pockets in women’s clothing was viewed as [...]
Pat Taub
GUEST POST By LISA SAVAGE Who’s the oldest here? is a phrase I heard frequently while growing up as the eldest of four siblings. Generally, it meant that I was about to get punished for a scuffle with my brother or sister and as a result the phrase had negative connotations. Now the phrase is coming to mind as I process the loss of my uncle, [...]
Pat Taub
GUEST POST by TONI KIEF I’m a writer. During the pandemic, I learned what writer’s block truly meant. So out of frustration, I took an online class, and David Sedaris said I should walk. I found that silly, but then I took another class where Dan Brown told us to walk. So, I started walking. I live in a growing small town, where [...]
Pat Taub
Count me among the countless fans and admirers of Diane Keaton who were shocked and saddened by her sudden death on October 11th. Her wide-ranging movie roles—from Woody Allen’s comedic sidekick to the tormented protagonist of “Mr. Goodbar” to the fiery journalist, Louise Bryant in “Reds”–along with her off screen life [...]
Pat Taub
This past weekend I saw Raoul Peck’s powerful new documentary, “Orwell: 2+2=5.” It was inspired by George Orwell’s novel, “1984,” depicting a dystopian future where a totalitarian regime called the Party controls every aspect of life. Peck’s film is intended as a wake-up call for America. He draws parallels [...]
Pat Taub
I rankle whenever I hear the term, “successful aging,” which has become the Boomers’ mantra. I take issue because it implies there is a right and wrong way to age where successful aging is defined in terms of a self-centered wellness regime. I find it even more irritating when successful aging becomes a competitive sport with a tendency [...]
Pat Taub
If you’re looking for inspiration in tackling a new artistic venture or reviving a project, then The Painted Ladies of Portland, Maine is your ticket. Recently I sat down with the five remarkable artists who make up The Painted Ladies, curious to learn how they came together and how they support one another in their artmaking. For them, [...]
Pat Taub
In our hugely unsettled world, many are seeking refuge in the company of books. To guide you in pursuit of books that will transport, educate and inspire, I’m offering my selections for solitary reading or to share with your book group. FICTION What We Can Know by Ian McEwan McEwan’s latest work, which has critics ecstatic. The [...]
Pat Taub